Monday, August 6, 2012

Nikki Haley to speak at GOP convention as Will Folks predicted

Over the years, my theory about the alleged Nikki Haley-Will Folks affair has changed significantly.

While I still believe that something occurred, I no longer believe it was an affair of any substance. Truth be told, I think there's a strong possibility that Folks and Haley engaged in the one-time smush-fest that Sic Willie mentions in his affidavit and the excerpt from, um, cough, cough, book and that's that. And from there, word about the front-seat lip-locking spread — who started it, I don't know — until the whole thing had morphed into a torrid tale about black boy shorts, cuckold hubbies, and last night phone calls.

But while I have my doubts about Folks' claims regarding the affair and otherwise, I have to admit that there usually is at least a kernel of truth in what Sic Willie posts on FITSNews. And in the case of the so-called Savannah Sell-Out, Folks was right when he said that Haley was a lock for a center-stage speaking gig at the GOP convention. In November, Folks wrote:

In addition to the money she reportedly netted at a high-dollar fundraiser held in Atlanta, Georgia last month, there may be another — much more important reason that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley has suddenly decided to sell South Carolina’s maritime interests down the river.

Need a hint?

It’s her rumored 2016 presidential campaign — an ambition Haley is hoping to advance by securing a high-profile, prime time speaking engagement at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida next August.

In fact, several of the same sources who recently bragged about Georgia port backers “buying Haley off” tell FITS that both the governor and her Maryland-based political consultant, Jon Lerner, have been aggressively lobbying Georgia Republican National Committeeman Alec L. Poitevint II for a prime time speaking slot for Haley at the convention.

Why?

In February, Poitevint was named chairman of the 2012 convention’s “Committee on Arrangements” — a role that gives him the power to determine which aspiring GOP politicians receive these coveted speaking slots.

Why is this relevant to Haley’s recent flip-flop on port issues? In July of this year Poitevint — a major GOP donor — was reelected to his second term as … you guessed it … chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority.

Hmmmm …

Now, I don't know if it's as simple as that — the anti-Haley forces have repeatedly misrepresented the facts of the Savannah Sell-out — but Nikki has scored that speaking gig. The Tampa Bay Times reports:

The first look at featured speakers also includes South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez.

The keynote speaker and others will be named closer to the Aug. 27-30 event, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said in announcing the headliners, whom he called "some of our party's brightest stars, who have governed and led effectively and admirably in their respective roles."

Brightest stars? Ha. Somebody evidently hasn't been following Haley all that closely. Her brief term in office has been mired in controversy and one strange PR hissy fit after another — from Facebook rants to calling reporters names. Haley is just as prone to going rogue as Sarah Palin, her celebutard predecessor.

We here in the Palmetto State — and that includes Dems like myself and Republicans — know that Haley has been a disaster from day one. The national GOP should be steering clear of a controversial figure like Nikki Haley, but it would seem that their never-ending quest to shed their lilly white skins has once again gotten them best of them.